Is that one big Barth or what?

09-15-2009, 07:31 PM

Bill N.Y.

quote:
Originally posted by Dick Dubbs:
...maybe Bill can switch from truck mechanic to a position with the CIA or Hollywood!

And work with the very people who staged the "Moon Landings"?

I thought you were my friend?

quote:
Originally posted by olroy:
Somewhere there's a "busnut," who likes the Barth paint scheme. Maybe he graduated from a Barth & has fond memories.

Not even close. But thanks for playing.

You might not like what I'm about to say... But, if it's true, you don't go and shoot the messenger.

Here is a 38' 1989 Barth. The first year that Barth used this paint scheme.

The coach below is from 1987. Barth couldn't have originated this paint scheme if that 1987 unit looks like this?

Would anyone like to fathom a guess as to when Barth made their first widebody? You know, the one with the extra strip of glass in the middle.

That's right... 2 years after that 1987 coach was made. The 1989 Barth Widebodies came out 2 years later.

Anyway... Looks like we'll be seeing some first time members in the Chat Room tonight at 9pm.

09-15-2009, 09:02 PM

Moonbeam-Express

I tried to enter the chat room, but I just get a brown screen with a little stick man that rotates, then nothing. The suspense is killing me.

Maybe it's a setting issue. Just a brown page, no words.

09-15-2009, 09:08 PM

Bill N.Y.

we are here - we saw you enter, but then you left - try it again

your wife made it into the chat room... it must be a setting on your computer

09-15-2009, 09:54 PM

Moonbeam-Express

So now that we know what it is, I have a question that has had me wondering since the early days when we chose a Barth over many other choices. I know the X brand has a custom built chassis, but what do they use for framing material? Is it aluminum like a Barth or SS or regular steel? I always assumed regular steel.

(sorry folks, Bill will need to expose the X brand)

Corey

09-15-2009, 10:12 PM

carlflack

I wish Bill would hurry up, I want to go to bed..........

09-15-2009, 11:57 PM

Nick Cagle

quote:
Originally posted by carlflack:
I wish Bill would hurry up, I want to go to bed..........

Okay, for those that didn't make it to the Chat room, the coach is a 1987 Newell 40ft widebody just purchased by Bill and Sonja.

They have given their Barth to the kids but will remain members and friends with the rest of us.

When looking for examples we found all those other Newells with the Barth paint scheme and it seems that Newell was using it before Barth. Newell also had a widebody before Barth.

Bill and Sonja, you have a beautiful coach. Hope you enjoy it for years.

Nick

09-16-2009, 12:15 AM

Bill N.Y.

.
I really hope that everyone had fun with this.

I know that I did.

quote:
Originally posted by Nick Cagle:
...the coach is a 1987 Newell 40ft widebody just purchased by Bill and Sonja.

All of those pictures, from all 5 of those coaches, were from 1987 Nick. It seems that it was their theme design for that year.

BTW: Bill and Sonja are making the leap from a 1988 Barth - 33 Ft. SE tag axle to this coach. Congratulations!!!

09-16-2009, 09:39 AM

scottydl

Now we have GOT to see some interior photos!

09-16-2009, 12:05 PM

Bill N.Y.

quote:
Originally posted by scottydl:
Now we have GOT to see some interior photos!

09-16-2009, 12:25 PM

scottydl

I'M IN LOVE!!!!

That interior is amazing for a rig of that vintage, much more than I expected. And my expectations weren't low by any means!

09-16-2009, 12:38 PM

Carl Feren

... it's OK.

That is one beautiful bus!!!

09-16-2009, 09:55 PM

Nick Cagle

If envy is a sin, well guilty as charged. Call me a sinner

Nick

09-17-2009, 09:06 AM

Moonbeam-Express

Incredible quality and workmanship. Is that the original fabric, etc?

It appears that Barth and Newell must have been competing over the same dwindling demographics in the mid to late 90s, Newell won! The purpose built, monocoque chassis is a big differentiator. I'd still like to know what the frame material is on this era and later Newells.
Corey

09-17-2009, 08:29 PM

Gary Carter

Newell welds up their own steel chassis and they don't really have a frame. I don't remember what they call it but it is built much like a bridge. They have had success with this design up to 45' but the 48'ers started bouncing in the middle. To the best of my knowledge they dropped the 48'.

09-20-2009, 01:52 PM

Bill N.Y.

quote:
Originally posted by Gary Carter:
...but the 48'ers started bouncing in the middle. To the best of my knowledge they dropped the 48'.

I signed up on the Newell Classic Forum Website and left a posting. Here is their response from one of the moderators.

quote:
Originally posted on the Newel Forum by fulltiming:
Welcome Bill. I have always liked Barths. Hang around, we can always use the counsel and guidance of a DD mechanic. I am a member of one of the Blue Bird Wanderlodge forums. I find that although some of the systems are extremely different, the knowledge that I gain regarding the DD 8V92 is extremely worthwhile.

We don't discriminate against non-Newell owners in any way.

Your writeup and the comments are great. There certainly is an interesting resemblance between the two. Glad that the comments were so positive. Some sites seem to have members that enjoy bashing anything that is different from their choice. That's a shame!! At least based on that post it looks like a good bunch of folks over there.

My one comment involves the post near the end of the thread about the 48' sagging. To the best of my knowledge, Newell's longest coach was a 47'. There were a few of them made over several years in the early/mid 2000's at specific owner's requests. (Yes, there are places where they are legal.) I have examined one of them and met the owner. I have never heard of an issue with them, or any other Newell, ever exhibited frame 'bouncing'. The frame construction of a Newell was originally patterned after the 1950 FitzJohn bus and allows a tremendous chassis strength while eliminating the need for large front to rear frame rails to extend down into the bay areas. Since Newell custom builds each chassis, the longer the chassis, the longer the wheelbase. Typically a long wheelbase has less porpoising than a shorter wheelbase but I have never experienced nor heard of any discernible frame flex in any Newell regardless of length.

˙ʎ˙u ןןıq- „ǝןƃuɐ ʇuǝɹǝɟɟıp ɐ ɯoɹɟ pןɹoʍ ǝɥʇ ʇɐ ʞooן ɐ ƃuıʞɐʇ sı ǝɟıן oʇ ʇǝɹɔǝs ǝɥʇ„
	1990 Barth Regis Widebody 8908 0128 40RDS-C1 L-10 Cummins Allison MT647 Transmission Spartan Chassis	1991 Medical Lab Conversion 9102 3709 33S-12 Ford 460 MPFI C6 Transmission Oshkosh Chassis
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˙ʎ˙u ןןıq- „ǝןƃuɐ ʇuǝɹǝɟɟıp ɐ ɯoɹɟ pןɹoʍ ǝɥʇ ʇɐ ʞooן ɐ ƃuıʞɐʇ sı ǝɟıן oʇ ʇǝɹɔǝs ǝɥʇ„
	1990 Barth Regis Widebody 8908 0128 40RDS-C1 L-10 Cummins Allison MT647 Transmission Spartan Chassis	1991 Medical Lab Conversion 9102 3709 33S-12 Ford 460 MPFI C6 Transmission Oshkosh Chassis
Quick Link: Members Only Link To Send Me A Private Message

˙ʎ˙u ןןıq- „ǝןƃuɐ ʇuǝɹǝɟɟıp ɐ ɯoɹɟ pןɹoʍ ǝɥʇ ʇɐ ʞooן ɐ ƃuıʞɐʇ sı ǝɟıן oʇ ʇǝɹɔǝs ǝɥʇ„
	1990 Barth Regis Widebody 8908 0128 40RDS-C1 L-10 Cummins Allison MT647 Transmission Spartan Chassis	1991 Medical Lab Conversion 9102 3709 33S-12 Ford 460 MPFI C6 Transmission Oshkosh Chassis
Quick Link: Members Only Link To Send Me A Private Message

˙ʎ˙u ןןıq- „ǝןƃuɐ ʇuǝɹǝɟɟıp ɐ ɯoɹɟ pןɹoʍ ǝɥʇ ʇɐ ʞooן ɐ ƃuıʞɐʇ sı ǝɟıן oʇ ʇǝɹɔǝs ǝɥʇ„
	1990 Barth Regis Widebody 8908 0128 40RDS-C1 L-10 Cummins Allison MT647 Transmission Spartan Chassis	1991 Medical Lab Conversion 9102 3709 33S-12 Ford 460 MPFI C6 Transmission Oshkosh Chassis
Quick Link: Members Only Link To Send Me A Private Message

˙ʎ˙u ןןıq- „ǝןƃuɐ ʇuǝɹǝɟɟıp ɐ ɯoɹɟ pןɹoʍ ǝɥʇ ʇɐ ʞooן ɐ ƃuıʞɐʇ sı ǝɟıן oʇ ʇǝɹɔǝs ǝɥʇ„
	1990 Barth Regis Widebody 8908 0128 40RDS-C1 L-10 Cummins Allison MT647 Transmission Spartan Chassis	1991 Medical Lab Conversion 9102 3709 33S-12 Ford 460 MPFI C6 Transmission Oshkosh Chassis
Quick Link: Members Only Link To Send Me A Private Message